Piano-player.



PMBNTED JUNE 3.1.1907.

F. W. WINTER. PANQ EL'AYER.

APPLIUAMUN FILED AUG. 11, 1905.

'fw VEN mi? J. M. W Z. .../7. .N

NO, 855,325, PATENTBD JUNE i1, 19a@ F. W. WINTER. PIANO PLAYER.

AlPLIOATION FILED AUG. 11, 1.905.

HEBT

WNEEM'E r avm/x.

PATENTED JUNE ll, 190?. F. W, WINTER.

PIANO PLAYER.

APPLIMTION FILED AUG.11,1905.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

10.855.325 y EATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

-` E. W. WINTER,

PIANO EEAYEE,

APPLIUATION FILED AUG.11, 1905. 4

j Sia iSHEETS-SEET 2.

i a @o 43a 57 F/g F gla 75 126 l fo im@ g5 va 8 4 a wmf/55555.' mwN/7271? EN EMME" `nrrn srnrnsrnfrnnr orrion.

FREDERICK W. WINTER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF'ONE-FOUR'II-I TO GUSTAVE BEHNING, OF NEW YORK, N .Y., AND ONE-FOURTH TO R. GEORGE GREEN AND ON E-FOURTII TO DAVID C. SPENCFLOF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PlANO-PLAYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed August 11, 1905. Serial No. 273,810.

v a pneumatic player that can be placed in and fbe made a part of any piano of the upright species, without altering the size or design or outward appearance thereof, and which player shall embody the simplest construction consistent with the highest eiliciency.

Referring particularly to the drawings, Figure l. is a vertical transverse sectional view of an upright piano containing this improved player. is a front elevation of the same, with the case and lower part of the piano broken away. Fig. 3 is a view of the lower front part of the piano, open and showing an exhaust-chest with pump mechanism in section, which is on the line A-A of Fig. l, iooking to the right. Fig. tis a full-sized vertical cross section of another exhaustchest, the under side of which carries and is operatively connected with a set of pneumatics, the view showing one of these pneumatics in side elevation and connected also for engagement with one of the actuating rods oi the piano-action. Fig. 5 is a detached face viewof the actuating rod shown in the preceding figure, including a stop in front thereof. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, illustrating a n'iodiiied construction of the exhaust-chest therein shown. Fig. 7 is a detail of a spring guide for valves included .in both the constructions represented by Figs. 4 and 6, Fig. 8 isfan enlarged view of the key-bed, sectionedeas in Figl but showing) a certain lever connected therewith inl a dif'- ferent position. Fig. Q is a partial sectional plan of the construction illustrated in Fig. 3, -below the line B-B Fig. l() is a horizontal 'section on the line CC of Fig. 4, looking down. Fig. 1i is an enlarged longitudinal section of a certain forni of valve-seat comprised inthe exhaust-chest of either Fig. 4 or Fig. 6.

In these drawings, the numeral l designates the outer case of an upright piano of ordinary construction; 2, the key-bed thereof; 3, the key-board; 4, the strings; and 5, the piano-action. No change or modification is contemplated in the structure or arrangenient of these parts of the piano, whether already built ornot, in order to apply thereto the present invention.

Like other instruments of the same class, this invention .also comprises-a number of parts that have been long in use and are well known inthe art, among which will be inentioned a tracker-board a series of tubes 7 leading from air-passages therein, a musicroll 8, a take-up roll 9, a perforated sheet of music l() unwinding from 8 to 9 and vice versa, a pneumatic motor 1l, and driving mechanism 12 connecting' this motor with the two said rolls, so as to rotate them together alternately in opposite directions. These parts may or may not all be of the customary structural design, but as no spe-- ciiic claim .is made herein to any one of them,

and their several functions are fully understood, no detailed'description of them need be given. The tracker-board with its tubes and the music-sheet and rolls thereior are placed centrally in the upper part of the piano-case, where the same are suspended by a light framework 13, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The motor is located at one side (Fig-1) and rests on an extension 14 of this framework,

Two exhaust-chests 15 and 16 are employed-in connection with the above-named parts. One oll them (15) may be called the primary exhaust-chest and is placed under the key-bed inside the piano-case, while the other (16) wliicl'i may be. termed the secondary exliaust-cliest, is located4 above the keyboard, but substantially in thc same vertical plane as the said primary. Both lie in horizontal positions longitudinally of the pianocase, the former being suspended from the key-bed by hangers, as 17, and otherwise suitably supported in the case, and the latter resting therein upon blocks 18, or equivalent supports, that. extend upwardly from .the keyboard.

The air is pumped out of the primary chest Vl5 by means of ordinary exhausting-feeders IOO bellows.

19 and storage bellows 20, der side of thisaid chest, and placed side by side in pairs and in a single line in the lower Jfront part oi the piano-case (Figs. l, 2 and 3). A plurality o these exhausting-feeders and storage bellows is provided, first, to per-' scribed), they draw the air from the motor 11, the secondary chest 16 and its pneumatics, and the tracker-board 6, the tubes 7 whereof communicate with. the said secondary chest. The feeders are placed between the bellows and adapted to be worked alternately, each by a folding pedal 23. The bellows are preferably mane with parallel tops andbottoms and arranged. to work in vertical planes, at right angles to the feeders. They are each subjected to the iniiuence ci an external spring 24, which is in the form of a spiral and is vertically diposed between the bottom of its respective bellows and the bottom of the piano-case, being connected with both. The connection with the ia1io case is made so as to be permanent, Whereas that with the bellow Ys is made adjustable, to regulate the Itension oi' the spring. its sug gestcd in Figs. i and 3, the adjustment is eiffected by means ol a winged nut 25, adaptedto pull up the spring,` orvpush it down along a screw-threaded rod 26, depending from the The arrangement is such that the bellows,urged by their respective springs, oven oppositely to the feeders and coact therewith in producing and maintaining a suitable vacuum in the chamber Communication between. the pneumatic motor 1l aud the primary chest l5 is established'tlnougl'i a pipe 27,

motor in known manner, and the lower end of which discharges into a series ot conl nected passages 23, 2Q, 3i), .provided in the secured. to the un` whose upper end lleads'away 'from the @dienst-chamber of the stieen ber, and indirect communication through an upper passage 33, leading across the chest to an oilset 34, in the rear thereof, thence up a vertical passage 3.5, in the said offset, to an intermediate pneumatic 3b, on top of the Ichest, and from the said pneumatic down through a similar passage 37, and a lateral opening 38, to the suction-chamber, in the rear. The opening 32 is indicated only by a dotted circle, in Fig. 2. As will be observed, its position relatively to the passage 30 is such that it lies directly op )osito a shallow portion of the suction.-cl1a1nber, as the same .appears in Fig. 3, on the right-hand side. This opening 32 and the passage 33 thereabove are respectively controlled by springressed. slideevalves 39 and 40, one of which ears upon the bottom of the box 31, While the other rides on a track 4l, in the upper part of the same box (Figs. 2 and 9). It is understood that the oflice of the pneumatic 36 is to regulate the llow of air from 'the motor so as to )lace and maintain it under favorable conditions for playing. F or a sinne lar purpose, the mouth ot the passage 33 is contracted and made partly V-shaped, represented in Fig. 2, so that as the valve 4() is slid oli or over it, the impulse from the 1notor may be varied more or less to suit the tempo, by governing the speed at which the' motor should run and unroll the sheet of music. The uncovering oli the 'opening 32, by withdrawai of the valve 39, establishes an unobstructed communication between the suction-chamber and motonpipe, and causes the motor to run with full force and speed, as is usually required for rerolling thc musicsheet.

Three pipes 42, 43, and 44 connect the primary chest 15 with as many chambers 45, 46, and 47 in the secondary chest 16 (Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, and 10). These are all suction-chambers. The chamber 45 extends the full len th of the chest 16, in its front portion, an( is reached by the 'pipe 42 from the left end. Into this chamber is discharged the air brought in by the tubes '7 of vthe traclrerboard, the lower end of each of which renters a vertical passage 4S, provided therefor in the central part of .the secondary chest, and tapped about midway of its length by a horizontal forwardly-running passage 49, which is partly covered by a plate 50, having a venthole 5l, opening` into the said chamber.- The chambers 46 and 47 occupy the rear half et the chest i6, directly back of the chaml'ier 45, and also run longitudinally ot the chest. They are coterminous, abutting one against the other and being separated by a iartition 52, which stands in that plane of tlic piano Where the bass ends and the treble begins. Thechamber 46 is reached by the pipe 43 from the leitend, and the chamber 47 by the ipe 44 from the right end. 'Phese two chamers are designed. to exhaust the air from a IDO llS

series of pneumatics 53, adapted each to lift one actuating rod Aof the piano-action, in the manner hereinafter. described. The pneumatics 53 all lie parallel in a single row under and across the chest 16, to the bottom of which their top boards are fastened. In this respect particularly the present invention differs from other mechanical plz yers, wherein such pneumatics `are much larger and stagfrom which it is drawn'into the suction-chamber 22 through an opening 58, made in the iront wall of this chamber' (Figsf 2, 3, and 9). The air from the chambers 46 and 47 of thel secondary chest is similarly conveyed down the pip` es 43 and 44 into valve-boxes 59 and 6U, respectively placed over openings 61 and 62, leading into the ends of a channel 63, which runs` nearly the entire length of the primary chest, in its top portion. Unobstructed communication between this channel and the suction-chamber 22 may be had throughy an opening B4, in the front of `the chest "l5, which openin leads directly yfrom Athe said channelinto tie upper half of the valve-box 57, the latter communicating with the saidv suction-chamber through the-'anden opening 5S, before mentioned. Indirect' communication is effected through an intermediate pressure-regulating pneumatic 65, located on top of the chest 15, which pneumatic draws the air Jfrom the channel 63 through. an upper opening 66, and expels it through. a vertical passage 67, in an offset 68, in the rear ol the chest, registering with the aforesaid transverse passage 56, and the opening within the valve-box 57. See Fig, 1 in addition to Figs. 2, 3 and .Q

Slide-valves 69 and 70 are placed in the' boxes 5),and 60 (Figs. 2 and 5%) to respec- V tively control the openings 61 and (i2, so that,

as the playing shall require, both openings may be simultaneously uncovered, or either opening may be stopped at will. .lt will be I understood that, through the use of theseA valves, communication betweenthe prnnary exhaust-chest and either of the chambers 46 and 47 of the secondary exhaust-chest can be, vholly or partially cut oli', thereby operating tro shut oil' either the buss or the treble, or to subdue either.

Similar valves 7l and 72 are provided in the box 57 (Figs. 2 land (l). ll`hese. rest edgewise on" acks 73 and 74, l and control the (Meanings and (i4, respectively. Vlf the lower' opening 5H be closed, il. will completelyr ,89 and SM), in thcrear ol the chest i6.

shut off the flow of air from the secondary chest to the pumping apparatus. On the other hand, the partial or total closing of the vupper opening 64 merely affects the direct communication between the pumping apparatus and the chambers 46 and 47 of the secondary chest, governing the same as is required for loud or soft playing.

The above-mentioned pneumatics of the secondary exhaust-chest, which hereafter will be called motor or secondary pneumatics, are deflated each in the following It will be observed that the passage 48 (Figs. 1 and 4), 'whichreeeives the air from the tube 7 is much larger in cross- `sectional area than the vent-hole 51, through which the air must pass in order to reach the suction-chamber 45. Hence the airA is retarded in its escape, and part of it descends into a horizontal passage 75, leading forwardly from the lower end of the passage 48. From the passage 75, the retarded air rises into a short vertical passage 76, under a diaphragm 77, which it momentarily causes to lswell up.- This diaphragm is secured over a suitable cavity 7S, in the bottom of the suction-chamber 45, and is adapted to reciprocate a vertically-disposed spindle 79, the upper end of which is passed throughan upperpassagel 80, and carries two valves S1 and. 82, respectively controlling the ends loli` this passage. The latter extends from thesu'ction-chamber to an air-chamber S3 dir ectly above, and a'iiordsa means of' communication between either et them and an obliquely-running horizontal passage 84, according as the valves 81 and 82 are worked. Upon the upper end of the spindle 7 9 bears a spring 85, which tends to ush it down and also acts as a guide lfor it uring itsreciprocatioir As the spindle 7S) ascends, under the impulse of the diaphragm 77, the lower valve 8l becomes seated, thdrebyclosing the suctionchamber 45 to the assagcs 8() and 84, and the upper valve 82 .is unscated, which opens the air-chamber 83 to the same passages. Then a small quantity ot' air from the chamber 83, which is open to the atmosihcre, flows into the passages 80 and 84,andI is al- IOO lowed to reach a diaphragm HG, in either the chamber 46 or they chamber 47 ot'the secondary eXhaust-cl'xest, according to the location of the tube 7 thatleads in the air from the trzwkcr-board and perforated sheet ol music. The diaphragm S6 .covers'a cavity S7, in the front wall of its respective suctionchamher, 46 or 47, and is'caused to lswell inward by the incoming external air from the chamber 83. '.lhis diaphragm has `secured vcentrally to it a valve-spindle, which runs horizontally across the suction-chamber, 46 or47, and thence out through alincd passages 'lhe spindle 88 carries a valve 91 lying in a vertical rod 99, that passes through the top ot the 'rises with its pneumatic, operates to lift the rod 1.16, through the 'under cushion 98 and the 4f: ses,

channel 92, which separates the passages S0 and 90, and extends from a point slightly abovethe same down to one of the pneumati'cs 53, communicating with its pneumatic through a suita l aperture, as 93. This channel, it will be noted, is also ca )able of coin- Inunicating with the suction-c amber, 46 or 47, and with the atmosphere, through the passages 89 and 90, which are controlled by the interposedivalve Q1. A s ,ring 94, similar to the spring 85, is arranger to bear upon and guide the outer end of the spindle keeping the valve 91 normally seated against the passage 89 to the suction-chamber, ,and allowing the external air to enter the channel 92 through the passage 90, and consequently to iow into and inflate the pneumatic. But when the diaphragm 86 moves inward, as above said, the valve 91 is shifted from the passage 89 to the assage 00, and becoming seated against the atter, excludes the outside air from the channel 02, and establishes communication between the suction-chainber and the channel, which causes a vacuum therein and the deilation oi' the thereto appertaining pneumatic. The reversal or contrary movement of thelinovablc parts here referred to takes place as soon as the air in the tube 7 and its sub] ying passages is eX- hausted into the suction-chamber 45 through the vent 51, when the diaphragm 77 dropsy the valve 81 becomes unseated and the valve 82 seated, the air iirst let into the passage 84 exhausts into the suction-chamber 45,-the diaphragm 80 falls back in its cavity, the valve 91 returns from the passage '90 to the passage 89, and the external air being again admitted into the channel 9:5"reinflates the secondary pneumatic. j

The successive iniiation and deflation of the row of secondary pneumatics obviously cause the reciprocation of their several bot tom boards in parallel vertical planes, which. is utilized for; operating the several actuating rods of the piano-action. To this end, the bottom board of eachfsecondary pneumatic is provided with-a rigid arm 95, extending rearwardly therefrom to a point directly in front of one of the said nods, the latter bcinfr designated in the drawing by the numerati 96 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5). The outer end of the arm is made to project under` a Isaddle or inverted U-sha )ed piece 97, secured to the lower end of t e rod 96, wherein the arm comes into contact with a cushion or abutnient 98, attached to the lower end of a screwsaddle and carries a similar cushion or abutment 100 at its upper end. 'ihe arnnas it saddle 97, and thereby sets in motion the hammer of the piane-action which the saine rod is designed to actuate. 'lhe cushion 100 yis carried up at the same time and is ar- 65 ranged to meet a stop 101, secured to the lower end of another vertically-dis osed screw-rod 102, passing throughafrai 103. This stop. serves to throw oi' or repel the up-f wardlynrnoving arm of the pneumat1c,7o

connection between the actuating rods and 8o the arms of the secondary pneumatics, it will be seen, is a loose one, leaving the rods independently operable or free to be raised by manual operation of the key-board in the commonY manner, as well as by pneumatic 85 action. But although loose, it willbe further seen that the connection is such as to prevent any lateral displacement of the secondary pncumatics, since their, "res ective arms are normally confined in th sa dies of '9o .the actuating rods, which sa'kiles act as guides 'to tlese arms in their reciprocatory movements and odset they comparative narrowness ci the pneumatica, due to their being grouped in a single rowunder the secondary 9 5 exhaust-chest.

Five levers 104, 105, 10G, 107, and 1,08 are employed in the operation of the above-descri ed player, iour to slide the valves 39,

40, 69, 70, 71 and 72, and the fifth to work rool the so-called forte-pedal, or more properly speaking, the damper-controller (Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 9). The lever 104, the iirst on the right, is connected with both the valves 39 and 71, by rods or links 109 and 110, at- :o5

tached to opposite sidesV of the same. The lever 105, next on the le'r't, is connected with the valve 40 by a similar rod or link 111. The middle lever 106 connects with both the` valves 69 and 70 through the agency or" rods uo 112 and 113. The fourth lever 107 (always counting from the right) is connected with the valve 72 by a rod 114. And the fifth and last lever on the left, 10S, connects with the said forte-pedal or darn er-coiitmller by 1x5 means of a rod l115, a bel -crank lever 116, and other suitable linkage (not shown). These several levers are arranged vertically under the key-bed inside the pianocase, and

are provided at their upper ends, each with 12o a clutch member 117, t irough which passes a longitudinally slidable rockshait 118, loosely fitted Within the said clutch member. Each lever is thus suspended from its rc1 s )active rockshait 'which latter runs transr2 versciy of the key-bed, across the under side thereof, and is journaled in pendent brackets y or hangers 119 and 120. The rcckshaft has at its rear end a fixed clutch member 121, Which is adapted to engage the aforesaid clutch member 117, when drawn forward, and, after such engagement, to oscillate the thereto connected lever, upon the shaft being rocked. A handle 122 is attached to they outer end of each shaft 11S, to alierd a convenient'mea'ns of rocking it, the connection therewith being a ivotal one so that when ro'the instrument is a out to be used, the several .rockshatts can be pulled outward and their .res ective handles made to stand at right ang es to them, just in iront ofthe keybed, as'represented in Figs. 1 and 2, and

15 when the instrument is not in use, the handles may be turned down in line with their vrespective rockshafts and pushed .back with them under the key-bed, as indicated in Fig. 8. For further convenience, a drawer 123 is provided, to the rear end of which the outer ends of the rokshafts are loosely held by stra s or clamps 124, and within which the han les may rest when in their recumbent 'positions This drawer fits in angular supports or guide-bars 125, secured to the under side of the keybed forwardly, and as it slides in or out, as the case may be, op 1-, ates to move. the rockshatts, their hand es and clutch members, simultaneously in the same direction.

F ig. 6 illustrates a modified construction of the secondary exhaust-chest, whic is somewhat different in design from that shown in Fig. 4, but is believed to be capable of achieving the same results. The secondary chest in the said F ig. 6 is indicated by 16, and such component parts thereof' as yare substantially like, those previously described,

a with reference to the said Fig. 4, are likewise indicated the same numerals, characterized bythe exponent cz.. As these parts dis- 'charge Jfunctions already understood, it is unnecessary tore-enumerate them all here or \to locate them, except to point out that the 43 :suction-chamber 45 is above the other suction-chambers of the chest, which are separated by the partition 52a. The location of tiese chambers of course determines the location of the several passages leading to and Oilroin the same.' The diaphragme of Fig. 4

lare replaced in Figu by pneumatics 77*L and 86a.

Figs 7 and 11 respectively showin detail the spring Iguide used in connection with 55 each of the valve-spindles 79, 79, S8 and SS, and the scat provided for each of the valves carried by the same spindles. '.lhe spring in each case is a ilat spring suitably perforated to let its valve-spindle pass through, and is 6o adapted to be moved outward by a nut or boss 126 on the valve-spindle. '.lhc seat consists ol a 'bushing 127, having a conical head 128, against which the thereto-belonging valve (to be made oi' pliable material) will impinge, and with which it will make an 6 5 air-tight joint.

'Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

'1. A piano-player comprising a secondary 7o. wind-chest, suitable pumping mech anisrn, an exhaust-chest connected therewith and located transversely of the player below said wind-chest, motor pneumatics lying in a single row across and beneath and all supported 7 5 directly from and adjacent said wind-chest and operated through the same from the pumping mechanism, a rigid arm extended. from each pneumatic, an actuating rod for, each of said arms, means on said rod eopcr- 8o ating with said arm, said means embodying a saddle, and a cushioning device, carried by and movably mounted in said saddle and operating in conjunction with said actuating rod, adapted for severally connecting said 35 pneumatics with a piano-action.

2'. A piano-player comprising a wind-chest', motor pneumatics disposed in a single horizontal row across the player below the windchest and to which their iixed boards are at- 9o tached and all supported directluv therefrom, and operating connections, serving as guides for the pneumaties, a saddle constructed to prevent lateral displacement of the pneumatics and cushioning means cooperating with said saddle.

v 3. A piano-player comprising awind-chest, motor pneumatics placed in a single row across the player below said wind-chest and supported therefrom, arms on said neuroo matics, actuating rods, means for loose y interconnecting said rods and pneuniatics, and

for confining said arms ywhereby the actuu ating rods independently operable and the action can be operated either manually or. pneumaticall'y, at will, and lateral dis- I placement of the pneumatics prevented.

4. A piano-player comprising actuating rods, and motor pneuniatics arranged in a single row below the player' and having each IO a rigid ain. cxtendedtoward one actuating rod thereof, said rod being provided with a saddle straddling said arm.

5. A piano player comprising actuating rods, motor pneumatics arranged in a single, USN

row below the player and each having a rigid l arm extended toward one actuating rod thereof, a saddle on said rod straddling said arm, and a cushioning device cooperating with said arm and saddle.

6. A piano player comprising actuating rods, motor pncumatics arranged in a single row below the player and each having a rigid arinextended tow ard one actuating rod thereof, a saddlevon said rod straddling said.

to throw otf or repel the pncumatics after rod lying astride said arm, a stop, and Gush-- ions above and below said saddle respectively adapted for engagement with said arm and.

said stop.

5. A piano-player comprising independently operable actuating rods, a row` oi pneumatics arranged in a lsingle horizontal row in juxtaposition to each other and placed each opposite one of the said actuating rods, arms operatively connecting said pneumatics with said rods, a rail suitably supported across the rods and above the arms, a saddle 'on cach rod lying astrid-e each are and independently mounted adjustable stops suspended from said rails.

9. A piano-player comprising pneumatics arranged in a horizontal plane, a. member rigid with each pneumatic, a vertically movable actuating rod, a member 'iixed relatively to said movable rod, cushions upon opposite sides ot' said fixed member, means connecting said cushions and passed through said fixed member, anda stop disposed above and in the path of the uppermost of said cushions to be engaged thereby. Y,

iO. A piano-player comprising pneumatics arranged in a horizontal plane, a member rigid. with each pneumatic, a vertically inevable member for each of said rigid members, a saddle carried thereby, cushions-above and below said saddle, a fixed rail, vertically adjustable members carried thereb and stops on said members in the path o't the uppermost of said cushions to be engaged thereby.

' 11. The combination with a piano, of a piano-player comprising a main exhaustchest laid longitudinally under the key be' and horizontally inside the piano-case an action exhaust chest above the keyboard in the same vertical, plane with said main chest and communicating therewith, motor pneumatics, each having an arm, a member carrying a saddle straddling said arm, a trackerboard and a pneumatic motor supported in a plane above the action exhaust-chest respectively communicatingr one with one of said chests, and the other with the other, a. periorated music-sheet adapted to be passed -betore said tracker-board through the agency of said motor, independently operable actuating rods, a loose connection between the same and the motorpneuinatics, a cushioning device cooperating with the arms oi' the pneumatics, and pumping mechanism located below said parts.

12. The combination with a piano, of a piano-player comprising pneuniatics, rigid arms extending from said pneumatics for cooperation with a saddle independent exhaustchests,cne above and the other below said pneumatics, connections bet-Ween said chests, meansfor operating the' piano ,action embodying an adjustable cushion device interposed in each ot said means, and comprising simultaneously-niovable cushions and asaddle interposed between said c shions.

13. A piano-piayer comprising pneumatics, rigid arois exten ding .from said pneumatics icr coopera ion with a saddle independent exhaust chests one above and the other below they pneumatic-s, connections between said chests, cctuatingrods, andconnections between said rods and. pneumatics each yembodying; an adjustablecushionfdevica and comprising simultaneous movable cushions and a saddle interposed'between said cushions.

1li. ji piano A comprising pneumatics, independent exhaust chests, one above and the other bcioiv the pneumatics, connections between chests, 'actuatinv rods, and. connections between said rods an( pneumatics embodv' g asaddie and a cushion device, a stop cooperating with vone side of said cushion device, and means carryingl the cushion device, guided in'said saddie.

i5. A piano-player comprising pneumatics, indepen`ent exhaust chests, one above and the other below the pncuinatics, connections bet1 yeen il chests, actuating rods, connections between said rods and pneumatics einbc ying a saddie on the rods, a cushion device and a stop cooperating with saidcushion device, cushion-carrying means guided in said saddie, ineens for adjusting said 16 [it pis praising pneumatenh ust chests, one above new the pneumatica, connec- 'd chests, actuating' rods, vbeen said rods and pneuf a saddle and a cushion dcvic'e, a stop coz th the cushion dcvice for each and means for adjusting saidl stops, each independently of the other.

i7. A pianoflower cmnp ics, independent and the other ocio-.1.' the pneumatico, connections between said chests, actuatingl rods, connections between said rods and pneumatics embodying cushion device, a saddle carried by cach rod, stops cooperating With'said cushion device, and means for adjusting said stops, each independently oi' the other, said actuating rods independentiy operable, and e cusl'iion device, guided i i.

18. it. pr ics,. 'independ and the c 1;.' tions between connections matics embed?,

ing pneumatsust chests, one above IDO 5 seid eusllondevee, en adjustable rod for tions between 4seid chest, actuating rods, coneonneeton'between said rods end tne pneulo' l neetlons between sind rods. and pneurnanl mames.

les ombodylng e euslllon devlee, a saddle l .ln testxmony whereof l affix my slgnature earned by eaolrrod, stops copemtlng Wlth l 1n presence ofLWo wltnesses.

eeeh cushionl device held in seid saddle,

means for adjusting said stops, eechnde- Witnesses; o pendenblyfof the other, seid actuating rods JAMES A. SWARTWOUT,v being independently operable, and a loose l VVILFORD E. WILEs.

FREDERICK W.'WIN'11ER, lsl 

